Jesus the Healer (Quality: Good)

[0:00] So Lord may help me and our attention to the gospel as recorded by Matthew chapter 8 and verse 7.

[0:11] Matthew chapter 8 and verse 7. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

[0:23] Amen. In considering as held these words that I have read by way of a text this evening, I would not for one moment isolate them from the context in which they are found.

[0:45] And we will first of all consider as here set before us the person of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

[0:58] And there are a number of important matters that are here blessedly opened up unto us concerning our Lord Jesus Christ.

[1:12] Indeed his ways and his dealings. And now surely there is the manifest evidence here. Both of his eternal power and Godhead.

[1:27] And as well the wonder of his grace and compassion unto needy and sinful men and women.

[1:38] And then also I would notice one or two things in regard to this centurion, this Roman centurion.

[1:50] His request to the Lord Jesus Christ. And also what is here evident, surely, of that work of grace in this Roman centurion.

[2:06] For as with the leper, that is, was mentioned in the opening verses. And surely no less with this Roman centurion.

[2:21] That what was evidenced and expressed by both these men as they came to the Lord Jesus Christ. And as the Lord notes the faith as it is spoken of here, of this Roman centurion.

[2:40] Surely does not the question arise from whence both did the leper and this Roman also have this knowledge and understanding in regard to the person of Jesus Christ.

[2:57] And the full persuasion. For that is very evident that he to whom they sought was able to deal with their need.

[3:12] Address the very distressing situation that they were in. Yes, there is surely, even in their request, the acknowledging that this one, the Lord Jesus, to whom they approved.

[3:32] Remember, it was as Jesus of Nazareth as he was then. I say, to whom they did not. I say, to from whence did this knowledge arise and this persuasion that he was not merely a man, but that he was God.

[3:54] For they owned him as such. For could any have the power and authority of which this Roman centurion was fully persuaded of in respect to the Lord Jesus Christ.

[4:11] I say, from whence did this arise? Surely, it was from no lesser source than that which the Lord Jesus said on another occasion to Simon Peter, that flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but my Father of which is in heaven.

[4:37] Blessed is the truth that is brought before us in the word. He giveth grace for grace. It was the grace of God that brought them to seek unto the Lord.

[4:54] It is nothing less than the grace of God still that ever brings a sinner to cry unto the Lord for mercy.

[5:06] And as that is the grace that brings them to cry, so it is. Grace that alone does hear and answer that cry and that to the praise of the glory of our Lord and Saviour.

[5:25] But first of all then, let us just notice one or two things in respect to the person of our Lord Jesus. And what I would emphasize is this, that as we read these accounts that are given in the record of the Gospels, of the words, of the works, and of the ways of our Lord Jesus Christ when he was here upon earth, that we have not only here an accurate account of those things, are that these things that are recorded here, are that which is a faithful, a true account.

[6:14] But it is not only that informing us of what the Lord Jesus did and said when he was here on earth.

[6:27] But, oh friends, they speak to us this. May our ears be open to hear, and our heart bless with the similar faith to this man here, this Roman centurion, to receive that it is not only what the account given us, informing us of what Jesus was, but all the testimony to us still of what he is.

[7:01] Do not lose sight of this important truth. He is the same, Jesus still, full of grace, full of truth, true.

[7:14] He's ascended upon high. He has entered into heaven itself, there to appear, in the presence of God for us, as the scriptures testify.

[7:29] But he is no less, the same Jesus still, full of grace, full of truth, his authority and power, is no less today, than it was.

[7:44] Ah, does he not himself blessedly testify? All authority and power, is given unto thee, in heaven and in earth.

[7:58] Do we believe it? Ah, do we evidence that belief, in our, that belief thus in him, deep with regard, to ourselves, of the path and situation, in which we are found?

[8:17] Do we really believe, that what the Lord Jesus did, for the leper, for this Roman centurion, in healing his servant, that he's able, to do the same, today?

[8:34] Ah, friends, these are not, unimportant matters, make no mistake, about it. Yes, as I mentioned, that this, is very authority, and power, as displayed here, in healing, the leper, in, also, the, the, the servant, of this Roman centurion, who was, grievously, afflicted, with a palsy, ah, I say, the authority, and power, of our Lord Jesus Christ, is no less, a today, ah, for, for, and, and what a, what a, what a, what a, whatever a source, surely, of encouragement, and consolation, is this, to the living, family of God, ah, be set, as we are, the believers, as we, journey on, through life, in all, that is found, in our, not in our own, personal lives, but in the circumstances, and the situations, with which, with often, both personally, and the people of God, collectively, are faced with, ah, much, often, is there not, at a discourage, many things, that trouble us, as well, and how often, friends, we find ourselves, like the psalmist, when he owns, and confesses it, before God, and it is a mercy, to be brought there, he says, oh, my God, my soul, is cast down, within me, yes, troubled, but what, he found, and what, in his own, particular path, and situation, at that time, not only, in that sense, pressing him down, and like, like Hezekiah, also expressed, on another occasion, but, oh, oh Lord,

[10:49] I am oppressed, undertake for me, yes, though much, in that sense, to trouble, yet, oh, child of God, what encouragement, is given us here, oh, behold, our Lord, Jesus Christ, behold him, as he is set, before us here, in the word of truth, as I have said, full of grace, full of truth, I emphasize, he is still, the same Jesus, his eternal power, and Godhead, is here, set before us, but notice this also, see him here, with this Roman centurion, ah, and still it is true, he comes forth, for the deliverance, of his people, ah, what struck me, particularly, in regard to this verse, of our text, was this, not only, the readiness, of our Lord,

[11:58] Jesus Christ, to hear, the cry, of this Roman centurion, ah, but also, the willingness, of our Lord, Jesus Christ, how immediately, he says, I will come, and heal him, and notice this, is there any question, raised here, as to whether, either he was, able to do it, or whether he was, willing to do it, no, blessed be God, no, ah, see, is not our Lord, Jesus set before us, as the great, and the good physician, and notice, friends, this, in respect, to our Lord, Jesus Christ, so vastly different, from all, from all, human physicians, and doctors, ah, a doctor might say,

[13:02] I will come, and examine the case, or see if I can do anything, in regard to the matter, but not so, with the great, and good physician, our Lord, Jesus Christ, doesn't come and say, I'll look at them, I'll examine him, see if I can do something, for him, he says, no, I will come, and heal him, the matter, is settled, it is sure, remember, so it is, in the Lord's ways, and in his dealings, ah, he speaks, and it is done, he commands, and it stands fast, is there anything, too hard for the Lord, he that spake the world, whole universe, into being, in the beginning, when he said, let there be light, and there was light, is anything, friends, too hard for the Lord, ah, how little, we really, that set, look at, and consider things, and situation, both in our day, in our personal lives, in the light, of that, which is, with, light of what is set, before us, in the world,

[14:29] I know, we acknowledge, that we, believe, we receive, the scriptures, and the teaching, that is given us there, but ah, you know, friends, I believe, many a time, we have to come, and will come, and the teaching, of the Holy Spirit, in the confession, of this, oh, how little, really, I believe, the things, that I profess, to believe, that is, regard to the, real, application, of the same, to the, to the, to the, to the very, situations, in which, we are found, I will come, and heal him, see here, both the readiness, and the willingness, of our Lord, Jesus Christ, oh, how he, condescends, at a, needy, souls, but, but, but, but I come, to the, most important, aspect,

[15:37] I just want, to touch upon, this evening, regard, to our Lord, Jesus Christ, yes, as this scripture, records, he, and it was true, of him, when he was here, upon earth, he healed, all manner, of sicknesses, and diseases, amongst the people, he cast out devils, ah, there was no situation, that he was beyond, his ability, nor indeed, his willingness, either, ah, but friends, what is also, displayed here, in the authority, and power, the willingness, of our Lord, Jesus Christ, in dealing, with these, situations, of sicknesses, and, and the casting out, of devils, ah, is also, that, that, that, that, that, as I said, the main point,

[16:39] I just want, to come to, is this, ah, that, for what is, all, the manner, of sicknesses, and diseases, to which, which we are subject to, in this, fallen world, are they not, the symptoms, the fruit, of sin, as a result, of the fall, of our first parents, ah, oh, thou, hideous, monster, sin, as the hymn writer says, what a curse, as thou brought in, ah, now sadly, solemnly, true is that, we see it, increasingly, in this, fallen world, ah, the fruits, and effect, of that, of that, which took place, in the garden, of Eden, and how the whole, of the human race, has been affected, from Adam's day, to this, ah, but our Lord,

[17:40] Jesus Christ, did not only come, to deal, with the symptoms, of sin, he came, to put away sin, by the sacrifice, of himself, and our friends, wondrous truth, is this, and what a, word it is, to the burden, guilty, and needy sinner, the soul, thus brought, to know its ruin, and wretchedness, under the teaching, of the Holy Spirit, here, in the person, of our Lord, not only one, that can deal, with the sicknesses, to which our, mortal bodies, are subject, but oh, friends, to deal, with that, which is the, greatest need, as a sinner, that we have, as, as, as those, that are guilty, as transgressors, of God's, holy law, and thus, come under, its curse, and its, condemnation, yes, the very, end, for which, our Lord Jesus, came, and how, he displays, the wonder, and blessedness, of it, to save, his people, from their sins, oh, how Paul, rejoiced, in this, see, what he, himself, expresses, when he says, it is a faithful saying, worthy, of all, acceptation, that Christ,

[19:14] Jesus, came, into the world, to save, sinners, of whom, I am chief, and notice, friends, he doesn't say, he came, to assist, sinners, to help, themselves, no, he doesn't say, he came, to do, so much, and then, it is the, responsibility, of the sinner, to respond, to it, no, he came, to save, sinners, ah, did not, Paul, glory, in that, wise, see, himself, surely, could testify, and not, only Paul, but so, with he, truly, taught, of God, the Holy Spirit, brought, to know, our sinfulness, and need, cannot, friends, we, find, that, a true, response, in our hearts, but, blessedly, witnessing, to what,

[20:16] Paul, testifies, he, came, that, he, came, to save, sinners, of whom, I am, chief, I say, Paul, gloried, in this, that, the Lord, Jesus Christ, had done, all, that pertained, to the salvation, of his soul, and so, it is, with sinners still, that he calls, by his grace, salvation, is of the Lord, it is not, friends, man's work, it is, God's work, the work, of his grace, from beginning, to end, both in, the appointing, the providing, of it, the procuring, of it, the atoning, work, of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and in the, application, of it, for the blessed, ministry, of the Holy Spirit, to sinners, even as many, as the Lord, our God, shall call, yes, all the praise, all the glory, belongs, to the Lord, and ever will do, throughout the, endless ages, to come,

[21:31] I will come, and heal him, as says the Lord, as is recount, see here, the authority, and power, the will, the readiness, and willingness, of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and our, what, and oh, friend, no less, is the Lord, both able, and willing, to hear, and to attend, unto the cry, of the needy, exercise soul, why, as any friends, sought unto him, and sought there, in vain, him writer, puts it in this way, the door, of his mercy, stands open, all day, for the poor, and the needy, that not, by the way, no sinner, shall ever, be empty, sent back, who come, seeking mercy, for Jesus' sake, let us just, take a glance here, also, at this,

[22:36] Roman, centurion, what is, one sense, remarkable, that here, was a man, that was a, Gentile, not a Jew, and, and one, that had, authority, as he himself, acknowledges, as a Roman, centurion, and is yet, brought, to see, unto Jesus, of Nazareth, as I, mentioned earlier, surely, this is, nothing less, than that, which arises, from the work, of grace, and, and, for it is short, for as our Lord, Jesus himself, said, no man, can come to me, except my father, which has sent me, draw him, here, we see him, then coming, to the Lord, Jesus Christ, and, oh friends, how wondrous,

[23:39] I say, is that grace, that brings, a sinner, to seek, unto the Lord, Jesus Christ, coming there, needy, indeed, coming there, with that, crying, and petition, God, be merciful, to me, a sinner, or again, was it not, so in the case, and that, Syrophoenician, woman, our friends, know what it is, to be brought there, not as an isolated, incident, in our lives, but where again, and again, we are brought, ah, and what a mercy, like with that woman, to worship, the Lord, with saying, Lord, help me, ah, there is a needy one, as we find here, wholly cast, upon the Lord, and, notice as well, this, we find, it was, it was not only, for himself, but indeed, for his servant, who was, grievously, afflicted, with this, palsy, as he says, why, for a Roman, centurion, even to, evidence, such concern, and indeed, kindness, for his servant,

[25:08] I believe, we can say, that did not, of itself, arise, from the working, merely, of fallen, human nature, even in that, was a fruit of grace, an effect of grace, for let me be assured, friends of this, we know, says it, we know anything, of the mercy, of the Lord, the gracious teaching, of the Holy Spirit, the recipient, of that grace, would not only, be found, with us a concern, for our own, a soul's welfare, but ah, would it not, lead us out, as well, in a real concern, for the welfare, of others, subject, to the Lord's, sovereign will, ah, grace, friends, enlarges, the heart, oh, it does not, leave us, to be occupied, merely, with our own, personal needs, real as they are, important as it is, bringing them, before the Lord, but that enlargement, of heart, in seeking, glory, the glory, of God, unquestionably, but also, the good of others, as it's subject, to the Lord's will, but, there are two things, further, to this man, which our attention, is drawn, first, as he comes, to the Lord,

[26:40] Jesus Christ, and notice this, the need, that he has, is great, it is such that, which is beyond, the ability, of men, to deal with, ah, but with him, is a firm, persuasion of this, as I, and it is what, the Lord himself, takes notice of, as he says, I have not found, so great fame, no, not, in Israel, there, even, amongst the Jews, ah, to, that, that they had seen, and witnessed, the words, and works, of the Lord, Jesus Christ, but where, was there, amongst them, such faith, as he had displayed, in this, Roman centurion, not only, in his coming, not only, with his request, that the Lord, would heal his servant, but his persuasion, that he was, that he, he was able, to do it, that, he had, it, he had, it, had it, in his authority, and power, just but to speak, and it would be done, as he demonstrates, he says,

[28:01] I have soldiers, unto me, ah, my word, is law, amongst them, I say to one, go, come, and he cometh, to another, go, and he goeth, they obey, me immediately, so, is in the implication, here, the Lord, does, does, but to speak, and it is done, speak, the word, only, and my servant, shall be whole, oh, friends, let us not lose sight, of the authority, and power, of the word, of our Lord, Jesus Christ, ah, not only, I say, in healing, sicknesses, of the body, as subject, to his sovereign will, but most surely, in bringing, pardon, and peace, to the guilty, and the needy sinner, ah, but there is another aspect, here, of this man, and he is, not surely, friends, as well, the fruit, and effect, of grace, not only, his firm persuasion, he truly believed, that Jesus, was able, to do it, as he expresses, here, as well, is that his own, unfitness, his own, unworthiness, surely, if, when effect, of grace, is this, it is that, friend, which lays, as low, at the Saviour's feet, ah, we have, brought to realise, more and more, we have, nothing, of our own, to glory in, ah, the greatest, wonder, to the child, of God, is this, that the Lord, should have, anything, to deal, do with that, oh, that, deep sense, of unfitness, and unworthiness, yet, the wonder, of this, that, as Paul, himself, expresses it, see what he writes, the epistle, to the Galatians, he says,

[30:10] God, that called me, that separated me, from my mother's womb, called me, by his grace, me, says Paul, who was a blasphemer, who was injurious, to the church, of Jesus Christ, who went, to the length, that I did, in, in opposing, that the truth, as it is, in Jesus, yet, the wonder, of this, the Lord, called me, by his grace, ah, I say, it is that, which lays, the sin alone, the deep sense, of our own, unfitness, and unworthiness, and yet, I obtained, mercy, as says, the apostle, ah, so here, and with this, man, likewise, and as the Lord, bears witness, to what, why, to that, which is the work, of his own hands, ah, and so it is, the Lord's ways, and dealings, with each one, of his own, it, as I mentioned earlier, he giveth grace, for grace, the grace, that brings, a sinner, to know, of their need, grace, that reveals,

[31:34] Jesus Christ, as one, mighty to save, grace, that brings, a sinner, that does seek, unto the Lord, and the same, wondrous grace, that hears, and answers, the cry, of a needy sinner, I will come, and heal him, as says the Lord, I say again, he is the same, Jesus still, oh, may we be, know what it is, the application, of these, precious things, to our own, personal needs, and situation, no like it is, with this man here, to be found, seeking, unto the Lord, committing all, into his hands, waiting for, and upon him, yes still, is he, full of grace, and truth, as the hymn writer, puts it, he holds, all nature, in his hand, that gracious hand, on which I live, does life, and time, and death, command, and as immortal, joins to give, but I'll leave, the remarks there, as the Lord, add his blessing,

[32:54] Amen.